Improvement in meat-carriers



J. E. WATKINS 8v S. D. BRYANT.

Meat-Carrier.

Patented J-un 3,1879.

E :all Ei..

n//// :by U... s

WeLZ-jemfqr UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. WATKINS AND SAMUEL D. BRYANT, OF SMITHFIELD,

IMPROVEMENT IN MEAT-CARRIERS..

Specilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 216.246, dated June 3, 1879; application filed n March 20, 1879.

'To all whom it may concern:

i Be it knownL that We, J. E. WATKINS and SAMUEL D. BRYANT, of Smithlield, in the county of Henry'and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Meat-Carriers; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Ourinvention relates to an improved carrier for meat, poultry, and the like; and it consists, iirst, in a carrier box or case for meats, fowls, and the like, composed of an outer case with side openin gs, closed by removable strips, said box being provided with a metallic lining, having perforations along said open ings for the admission of air when the strips are removed, the box having 'also fitted within it a casing formed, in like manner, with perforated lining, openings, and closing -stripsg secondly, of the inner casing, constructed as above set forth, and provided with two sets of the above-descri bed sub-compartments, formed by said notched strips and a dividing-parti tion, all as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of our improved carrienbox lwith the lids in an open position. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on a plane just to one side of the central partition-strip. Fig. 3 is a crossseetion taken on a vertical plane through one of the cross partition-strips, the covers in both of these last two figures being represented as closed.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A represents the inner compartment of the doublewalled box, which is provided with a lid, hinged thereto in the usual way.

The strips c, which intersect each other so as to form the several sub-compartments within the main inner compartment of the box or chest, are notched or slotted at their points` of intersection, as at al, the said slots or notches being equal in length to about one-half the` width'of the strips, whereby the strips may be interlocked together, as shown in Fig. l, so as to constitute the several sub-compartments of the carrier. We propose to provide, usually, twelve or more4 of these sub-compartments; and to this end two tiers or sets of sub-compartments may be formed by means of theinterlocking-strips,andasuitablepartition, c, placed between the said two tiers or sets, as shown in Figs; 2 and 3.

The metallic liningf represented upon the interior sides of the inner compartment, A, is formed with any desired number of perforations,P P, and the box is constructed with slots or openings g, properly closed by slides or removable strips g.

The casing which is constructed to form the inner main compartment is set into a large box orcasing, H, which, in some respects, has a similar construction to that of the inner box, A-that is tosay, it has an interior inetallic lining, t', opening k, strips or slides l to close the same, and perforations through the lining where the opening through the box occurs, whereby air may be admitted to the openings in the easing of the inner compartment.

The strips in both cases are secured in place by the pivoted hooks m. A space, n, exists between the interior of the walls of the exterior casing and the exterior of the walls of the inner casing. This will admit of the introduction of a packing of sawdust, or any other non-conductor which may be desired.

Strips o o are secured along the metallic I lining of the outer box, so as to keep theinterior casin g at all times at a uniform distance from the perforated lining.

The formation of the several sub-oompart ments by means of the hereinbeiore-described strips affords peculiar facilities for such requisite ventilation, since the interior sides of the box constitute` in each instance at least one side for each sub-compartment.

In practice we may provide the covers or the rims of the two cases with rubber packing, whereby the carrier will be rendered airtight when the covers and slides are closed, which, when ice is employed, will be found. an important addition.

The box or case may be provided with a metallic lining throughout, and any suitable non-conducting substance placed'between said lining and the box, as aforesaid.

up but little room.

We also propose, when ice is used, to furnish the box with suitable drawer at the lower part thereof, as a receptacle for the ice-water which may be emptied therefrom. l

In using our improved carrier the slots may be closed when the weather is warm and ice employed; or, if itis sufficiently cool, the slots may be opened, thereby admitting exterior air to the sub-compartments containing the meat, fowls, or fruit.

Carriers constructed in this way may be lled with various commodities, and transported and delivered with contents at the point of destination, and then be reloaded and returned to the place from whence originally shipped.

rlhe strips can be unlocked after contents are unloaded, and laid flat on the bottom of the main inner casing, Where they will take The carrier may thus be adapted to be utilized as an ordinary box for conveying suitable commodities on the return trip. It may also be used as a refrigerator, wherein meats, &c., will be kept cool and fresh.

What We claim isl. A carrier-chest or refrigerator composed of the outer case, H, opening k, closing-strips l, metallic lining i, perforated along said openings, and an inner casing, A, having a metallic lining, f, slots or openings g, perforations in the lining along the slots, and remov able strips g', substantially as herein set forth.

2. The inner casing, A, having metallic liningf, slots or openings g, perforations Pin v said lining along the slots, and partition e, abutting against perforated portion of lining, in combination with the strips C, notched and interlocked, as described, so as to form the several sub-compartments, all as shown and speciied.v

3. Casing A, with a hinged lid, perforated metallic lining, and slots or openings, with closing-strips, in combination with notched and interlocked strips C, and partition e between two set-s of the same, and abutting against perforated portion of lining, as shown and described.

In testimony that we claim theforegoing as our own we atx our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. W'ATKINS. S. D. BRYANT. Witnesses:

W. H. MEAD, AUGUST ZIMME. 

